Rates of high-intensity drinking are increasing among college students with some studies indicating that 12% of college students report high-intensity drinking during the past two weeks. One high-risk drinking behavior that is prevalent among college students is pregaming. Pregaming involves heavy alcohol use to get intoxicated prior to leaving for an event. Pregaming often leads to high-intensity drinking which can result in negative consequences such as blacking out, driving under the influence, and hospitalizations. Pregaming has also been associated with long-term effects like developed patterns of heavy drinking, academic issues, and mental health problems. This study examines the impact of a brief mobile intervention called Pregaming Awareness in College Environments (PACE) on pregaming and its associated consequences among college students.
The study’s sample consisted of 485 college students from a private West Coast University who reported pregaming at least once per week or at least four times in the past 30 days. Participants completed a baseline survey and 14 days of daily diary surveys assessing alcohol use before being randomized to either the PACE intervention group (n=242) or control group (n=243). Students then viewed the mobile based intervention or control condition content for a 5-day period. Following the intervention, participants completed 14 additional daily diaries and two follow-up surveys (6 and 14 weeks post-intervention). The surveys assessed pregaming frequency over the past 30 days and global drinking frequency during the past 30 days. Data was analyzed using generalized linear models.
Results of the data analysis showed those assigned to the PACE intervention reported significantly fewer past 30-day pregaming days, lower global drinking frequency, and fewer alcohol-related consequences compared to those in the control group at the 6-week follow-up survey but not at the 14-week follow-up. Individuals who had a positive Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) had better outcomes when assigned to the PACE intervention versus the control.
Takeaway: The brief mobile intervention Pregaming Awareness in College Environments (PACE) may be produce short-term positive effects on pregaming days, global drinking frequency, and alcohol-related consequences among college students.